How long has Lekas been around? He scouted and signed Chris Carpenter in the 1993 draft -- first from the state of New Hampshire since Carlton Fisk.

Since last September no less than 10 Blue Jays scouts have been in checking on Samardzija and other Cubs moving -- or soon-to-be-moved -- parts like right-hander Jason Hammel, who beat Washington Friday, ex-Jay Carlos Villanueva, and second baseman Darwin Barney.

The list of Toronto evaluators Cub-observing is a who's who of the Jays brain trust.

1. Sal Butera saw the Cubs in September when he was still a scout. This year he's looking at Jays video replays along with Ryan Mittleman. When you see bench coach DeMarlo Hale on the phone, he's calling them and hoping Sal is not watching his son Drew Butera catch for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Hale gets a thumbs-up to relay so manager John Gibbons can challenge a call.

2. Dana Brown, special assistant to general manager Alex Anthopoulos, the wisest eyes in the group. The ex-Washington Nationals scouting director has a lot of influence at decision time on adding a player via trade or in the draft.

3. Mel Didier, senior advisor and most experienced member of the Jays staff, has seen more players than anyone. He started with the 1970 Montreal Expos and saw Samardzija in June.

4. Ed Lynch, the former Cubs GM, saw plenty of the Cubs this spring -- as he's based in Arizona -- and again once the season began.

5. Jim Beattie, the former Expos GM, saw the Cubs play earlier in the season.

6. Jim Skaalen, who won the Al LaMacchia award as the Jays scout of the year in 2013, watched the Cubs June 12 and was back again Wednesday.

7. Dean Decillis, a pro cross-checker for the Jays, saw the right-hander in June.

8. Russ Bove, a former New York Mets scout, who helped teach Anthopoulos the scouting basics back when the GM was a green intern with the Expos. Now a special assignment with the Jays, he checked in on Samardzija June 17.

"I like Samardzija a lot," said a National League general manager. "But his make up reminds me of Brett Lawrie. He's wound, he will take that Notre Dame football attitude to the mound. That can be good as long as he's under control. That can be bad as a pitcher if he humps up at Yankee Stadium and goes ball four, ball four, ball four.

"You don't know what he's going to do in the stretch run. At least I don't."

While the 10, or maybe more, pairs of Blue Jays eyes in on Samardzija are doing the evaluating, the final say on meeting the Cubs' request of right-hander Aaron Sanchez, lefty Daniel Norris and outfielder Dalton Pompey, will be made at 1 Blue Jays Way, high atop the ivory tower.

Are the three prospects -- probably the Jays' top three -- too much?

AND THE PRICE IS?

And what of lefty David Price, who could soon be moved by the Tampa Bay Rays?

Bove saw Price beat the Pittsburgh Pirates and Lynch was there the previous start against the Houston Astros.

Price is a proven commodity in August, September and October and would be worth more.

Would the Rays deal within the division?

Are Sanchez, Norris and Pompey worth the price for Price?

"I would do it," said an AL scout, "without hesitation."

But is that offer enough to outbid the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, San Francisco Giants, St. Louis Cardinals, Kansas City Royals, Los Angeles Angels and Atlanta Braves, who have all been scouting Price, Samardzija and Hammel the past few weeks?

Only 30 days until the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline.

OLDEST TO PLAY

Mike Sandlock, who turns 99 on Oct. 17, is the oldest living former major-leaguer according to Bill Carle of the Society for American Baseball Research. Sandlock played for the Boston Braves (1942, 1944), Brooklyn Dodgers (1945-46) and Pittsburgh Pirates (1953). Next oldest are Cleveland's Eddie (Lefty) Carnett, former Cub Lennie Merullo and Philadelphia Phillies Alex Monchak, who are all 97. Boston Red Sox's Lou Lucier and Oakland's Carl Miles are both 96.

Ron Fairly is the oldest living former Blue Jay at age 75.

CONGRATS

Seattle Mariners' Wayne Norton of Port Moody, B.C., is the winner of the Jim Ridley award presented by the Canadian Baseball Network as the scout of the year. Norton drafted North York outfielder Gareth Morgan 74th overall in North America and the Mariners gave him a $2 million US signing bonus.

The past two seasons, Norton has drafted Tyler O'Neill of Maple Ridge, B.C. (the top high school hitter) in the third round last year, North Vancouver's Lachlan Fontaine in the 12th round, and Morgan.

Norton also won the award in 1998. Besides Ridley, who died in 2008, Norton is the only man to win the honour twice in the award's 21 years of existence.